Daryl Banner Books in Order

Where to Start with Daryl Banner

Daryl Banner is a highly versatile author who shifts seamlessly between heartwarming, steamy M/M contemporary romances and gritty, speculative dystopian sci-fi. Because his catalog spans such different genres, your perfect starting point depends entirely on what you are in the mood to read.

If you want sweet, steamy, small-town romance with plenty of humor and southern charm, start with Football Sundae, the first book in his beloved Spruce, Texas series. If you are looking for an action-packed, sleepless dystopian adventure, begin with Outlier: Rebellion, the opening novel of his acclaimed sci-fi saga. For readers who enjoy quick, episodic contemporary stories that feel like binge-watching a TV show, the Boys & Toys novellas offer a perfect entry point.

The Spruce, Texas Universe & Spin-offs

The Spruce, Texas series is Daryl Banner's signature contemporary romance collection. Set in a fictional small Southern town, these books are written as standalones, meaning each story focuses on a different couple and resolves their romance by the final page. However, characters frequently cross over, and the town itself changes over time, so reading them in publication order is highly recommended to appreciate the community's growth.

Spruce, Texas Reading Order:

• Football Sundae (2017)
• Born Again Sinner (2018)
• Heteroflexible (2019)
• Wrangled (2020)
• Rebel at Spruce High (2021)
• Summer Sweat (2022)
• Hopeful Romantic (2022)
• Mr. Picture Perfect (2024)

A Texas Beach Town Romance (Spin-off Series)

Once you finish Wrangled or Summer Sweat, you can transition to Banner's beach-themed spin-off series, A Texas Beach Town Romance. Set in the same universe but shifting to sandy shores and coastal vacation vibes, this series should be read in publication order:

1. In Too Deep (2021)
2. Crusher (2022)
3. Far From Paradise (2023)
4. Hearts Adrift (2025)

Boys & Toys Novellas

Designed with a fast-paced, serialized structure, the Boys & Toys novellas are split into "seasons" that focus on a close-knit group of friends. They are quick reads packed with banter and chemistry.

Season 1:

1. Caysen's Catch (2019)
2. Wade's Workout (2019)
3. Dean's Dare (2019)
4. Garret's Game (2019)

Season 2:

1. Connor (2020)
2. Brett (2020)
3. Dante (2020)
4. Zak (2020)

The Outlier Dystopian Saga

For fans of speculative fiction, Banner's Outlier series presents a dark, sleepless world where dreams are a dangerous secret and the society is governed under strict control. Unlike his romance books, the Outlier series features a continuous narrative arc. You must read these books in order, as they build directly on previous cliffhangers and plot developments.

Outlier Reading Order:

1. Outlier: Rebellion (2014)
2. Outlier: Legacy (2015)
3. Outlier: Reign of Madness (2016)
4. The Twice King (2018) – Note: This is a prequel novella. While it can be read first, it is best enjoyed after Reign of Madness to avoid spoilers and appreciate the world-building.
5. Outlier: Beyond Oblivion (2019)
6. Weapons of Atlas (2021)
7. Outlier: Gifts of the Goddess (2023)

The Beautiful Dead Series

Another major speculative project from Banner's early catalog is The Beautiful Dead, a post-apocalyptic fantasy series. In this universe, the "undead" have established their own functioning society, moving past mortal concerns. The story follows Winter, an undead protagonist uncovering secrets about her existence.

The Beautiful Dead Reading Order:

1. The Beautiful Dead (2013)
2. Dead of Winter (2014)
3. Almost Alive (2015)
4. The Whispers (2016)
5. Winter's Doom (2020)

Other Notable Series & Collaborative Works

Beyond his primary universes, Daryl Banner has written several other mini-series and standalone novels:

• A College Obsession Romance: A four-book M/M series tracking romance and drama through college years. Read in order: Read My Lips (2016), Beneath The Skin (2016), With These Hands (2017), and Through Their Eyes (2017).
• Bad Boys & Rebels: A trilogy following rugged romance arcs: Getting Lucky (2018), Raising Hell (2018), and My Bad Ex-Boyfriend (2019).
• The ABCs of Love Series: Note that the 26-book ABCs of Love series is a collaborative, multi-author project. While catalogs often list all 26 books under each author's name, Daryl Banner specifically wrote and contributed Book 10, titled Jerk (2022). You do not need to read the other books in the series to understand his contribution, as they are all standalones by different authors.